Two weeks ago, High North News wrote that national authorities were tightening the reins on Svalbard. Four major hearings (see fact boxes at the bottom of this story) have been introduced in the past year. Local actors worry about the consequences. The authorities are amongst others considering removing local voting rights from foreigners, limiting how much special education the school is to provide, increasing protection of nature, and introducing stricter requirements to field safety.

Now, Minister of Justice and Svalbard Emilie Enger Mehl (Center Party) answers.

What position does the new government take on these hearings?

“It is too soon to tell how we will relate to these issues. We have to revert to that. Generally speaking, I have noticed that people in Svalbard have not felt sufficiently heard in matters that have a bearing on their everyday life and business there. I am sure there will be cases in the future too on which we disagree”, Mehl responds.

“However, I am focused on good processes and on facilitating input from people who on cases by which they will be affected, as far as possible”, the Svalbard minister says.

Broad political agreement

In its foundational document, the Hurdal Platform, the new Norwegian government writes that Svalbard carries major strategic significance for Norway’s opportunities in the High North and Arctic. the Svalbard policy is thus an integral part of the government’s High North policy. It wants to further develop the Svalbard policy in a way that secures Norwegian interests and Norwegian settlement and maintains a sustainable development in the Arctic.

How will you achieve this?

“The overall goals of the Svalbard policy have been firm for years and years. The broad political agreement about these goals have led to the governance of Svalbard being characterized by continuity, that it is predictable and follows the longer lines. When Stortinget [the Norwegian parliament} processed the latest whitepaper about Svalbard in 2016, Longyearbyen was in a transition phase due to the shutting down of coalmining in Svea”, Mehl writes to High North News.

“The community is still in transition and there will also in the near future be a need to consider measures and facilitations that contribute to maintaining the Svalbard policy goal about a viable and diverse local community in Longyearbyen”, Mehl says.

Maintain Norwegian community

Will you make changes, compared with the previous government?

“At the moment it is too soon to tell, other than that we are concerned with the longer lines of the Svalbard policy and with maintaining a form of governance that is predictable and marked by continuity. Maintaining a Norwegian community on the archipelago has long been an important goal of the Svalbard policy and is firmly anchored in Stortinget. Longyearbyen is the administration center of the country’s northernmost region”, Mehl says.

“In order to meet the goal about maintaining a Norwegian community in Svalbard it is important to facilitate a well-functioning business life in Longyearbyen. The government will consider measures supporting this goal on an on-going basis. Initially, it was important for me to make sure avalanche and landslide security measures for the Vannledning Valley was included on this year’s budget, and I am glad we were able to allocate NOK 40 million to improve safety in Longyearbyen”, the Svalbard minister says.

Pressure on infrastructure

Do you want fewer inhabitants in Longyearbyen?

“The number of inhabitants in Longyearbyen is fairly stable, however, in recent years it has increased. There is currently pressure on infrastructure and public services. The population mix has also changed with Longyearbyen having developed from being a company town based on mining to becoming a more diverse town based on more varied businesses. These are natural changes, however, they also lead to new challenges that the government will have to continue working on”, Mehl says.

Do you want fewer inhabitants in Longyearbyen?

“Having a balance in the relation between Norwegian and foreign citizens in Longyearbyen is important.”

Wants to come to Svalbard

What measures will you potentially take to reach these goals?

“Employment as well as a well-functioning business and work sector are crucial for Longyearbyen to remain an attractive location for Norwegian families”, Mehl writes.

Does the Svalbard minister have plans to visit Svalbard this fall?

“I have a desire to soon visit Svalbard, however, I will have to revert with a date for such a visit”, Mehl says.

This article was originally published in Norwegian and has been translated by HNN's Elisabeth Bergquist.